Brush With Bamboo is my new favorite toothbrush

After reading my blog, and especially the review of several different eco-friendly toothbrushes, Rohit Kumar and his friend Rohit Sahdev were inspired to create the perfect plastic-free toothbrush. While they haven’t yet found a way to create a brush that is completely plastic-free, they’re getting close. Their company is called Brush With Bamboo, and I’ve really been enjoying using the various toothbrush incarnations they’ve developed over the past year and observing the Rohits’ efforts to create a brush whose materials and packaging are more and more sustainable. I gave Ro K. lots of feedback and suggestions, and he listened and took action. THAT is the kind of person/company I want to support!

The Handle

I love the curved handle on the brush as well as the length. The one in the picture on the right is the earliest version. It’s more curved. But to achieve that effect, it had to be made out of several pieces of bamboo bonded together. Rohit Kumar says that he couldn’t get a guarantee that the adhesive was plastic-free and non-toxic, so in the second version, he opted for a brush that is slightly less curved and a bit thinner but made from one solid piece of bamboo. But compared to the handle of the Environmental Toothbrush that I reviewed in my previous post, it’s much more comfortable to hold and is longer as well.

When considering other bamboo toothbrushes or other bamboo products for that matter, consider the shape and size. If they are solid and round or thick, they are probably several pieces held together with some kind of glue. Just something to keep in mind as other toothbrushes come on the market.

Bristles

The bristles, too, are curved, which is really nice compared to that other brush. The bristles, however, are not plastic-free. They are made of nylon. So far, no one has been able to come up with bristles that are both plastic- and animal-free. Rohit’s original brush included bamboo and tea fibers combined with the nylon, but he received feedback that the bristles wore out too soon, so in version 2 he eliminated those fibers. I would love someone to come up with the perfect natural toothbrush bristle fibers. Please keep trying!

The Packaging

The box is made of recycled paper, and does not contain any glue. It’s held together by tabs instead of adhesive. Rohit says that’s a real concern when choosing cardboard boxes. The box also has empty window cutouts instead of plastic windows.

Inside the box, the brush is wrapped in a corn-based compostable plastic wrapper. Ro even sent me the certification to prove it.

I expressed my concern about the wrapper to Ro. I’m not a big fan of these corn-based plastics because growing corn has a huge environmental impact and most of it is GMO. Also, these plastics require an industrial composting facility to break down.

I suggested using a cellulose wrapper instead, and Ro has told me he has sourced such a wrapper and will try it in the next iteration of the brush. He even mentions it in the FAQ on his website.

The Brush with Bamboo website also has information about proper disposal of the toothbrush once it wears out (including clever ways to reuse the handle) and other environmental information.

Clean Planetware

Developing sustainable products runs in the family. Ro’s dad sells a line of reusable stainless steel food containers and dinnerware called Clean Planetware to encourage people to avoid disposable restaurant packaging.

09/28/2013 UPDATE: Brush with Bamboo is offering a DISCOUNT to My Plastic-Free Life readers. Use discount code ‘myplasticfreelife’ (needs to be lowercase) for 15% OFF + Free Shipping on anything they sell.

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Beth, I just stumbled upon The Goodwell Company. Curious to know what you think of it and if you've tried this toothbrush? It's a bit expensive so I'd love feedback first. http://www.thegoodwellcompany.com/

This is Adam from Yangzhou Tongfun Red International Trading Co.,Ltd. We are the first factory exporting bamboo tooth brush in the world.We use bamboo in order to reduce the use of the plastic and to protect our environment. My Email is :Adam@cn-dfh.comWeb:www.goecotown.com http://cndfh.en.alibaba.com/

We are the first factory exporting bamboo tooth brush in the world.We use bamboo in order to reduce the use of the plastic and to protect our environment. My Email is :Adam@cn-dfh.com Web:www.goecotown.com http://cndfh.en.alibaba.com/

We are the first factory exporting bamboo tooth brush in the world.We use bamboo in order to reduce the use of the plastic and to protect our environment. My Email is :Adam@cn-dfh.com Web:www.goecotown.com http://cndfh.en.alibaba.com/

We are the first factory exporting bamboo tooth brush in the world.We use bamboo in order to reduce the use of the plastic and to protect our environment. My Email is :Adam@cn-dfh.com Web:www.goecotown.com http://cndfh.en.alibaba.com/

We are the first factory exporting bamboo tooth brush in the world.We use bamboo in order to reduce the use of the plastic and to protect our environment. My Email is :Adam@cn-dfh.com Web:www.goecotown.com http://cndfh.en.alibaba.com/

Kenji Yamada We are the first factory exporting bamboo tooth brush in the world.We use bamboo in order to reduce the use of the plastic and to protect our environment. My Email is :Adam@cn-dfh.com Web:www.goecotown.com http://cndfh.en.alibaba.com/

Kenji Yamada This is Adam from Yangzhou Tongfun Red International Trading Co.,Ltd. We are the first factory exporting bamboo tooth brush in the world.We use bamboo in order to reduce the use of the plastic and to protect our environment. My Email is :Adam@cn-dfh.com Web:www.goecotown.com http://cndfh.en.alibaba.com/

AneCristi This is Adam from Yangzhou Tongfun Red International Trading Co.,Ltd. We are the first factory exporting bamboo tooth brush in the world.We use bamboo in order to reduce the use of the plastic and to protect our environment. My Email is :Adam@cn-dfh.com

I just want to say that currently most brands of toothbrushes wether plastic or bamboo are all made in China. Even if you buy them at your local store there were probably shipped from China. At least when you throw them away they will disappear if they are made of bamboo.

Hi I loved it! But I have a question: Is the shipping from China to the house of the person (in my case Brazil) sustainable? I want to say, maybe the fuel spended are so that is better to buy plastic brush in a local shop? It is a real concern for me, I don't know what impacts the environment most. I get this thought every time I think of buying somthing by internet. If you can help me I'll be glad. Thank you!

Hi I loved it! But I have a question: Is the shipping from China to the house of the person (in my case Brazil) sustainable? I want to say, maybe the fuel spended are so that is better to buy plastic brush in a local shop? It is a real concern for me, I don't know what impacts the environment most. I get this thought every time I think of buying somthing by internet. If you can help me I'll be glad. Thank you!

I love how candid you are about all the different material and processes that go into making the brush. This is what sets you guys apart from other companies making bamboo brushes who would never mention something such as the adhesive used to bind the bamboo together. Thanks so much for the work you guys are doing! Just bought a 4 pack =)

I love how candid you are about all the different material and processes that go into making the brush. This is what sets you guys apart from other companies making bamboo brushes who would never mention something such as the adhesive used to bind the bamboo together. Thanks so much for the work you guys are doing! Just bought a 4 pack =)

Hi there. There is a a bright yellow box on the View Cart page that says 'Apply Coupon'. I just checked and it is working. If you still have trouble please call us directly at (909) 265-4ECO and we will take care of it :)

Hi there. There is a a bright yellow box on the View Cart page that says 'Apply Coupon'. I just checked and it is working. If you still have trouble please call us directly at (909) 265-4ECO and we will take care of it :)

This is awesome. Recently went to the Food and Hospitality and plates, to go containers, and flat ware all from Bamboo. Hopefully the change will happen soon, just like everything price is always high in the beginning.

This is awesome. Recently went to the Food and Hospitality and plates, to go containers, and flat ware all from Bamboo. Hopefully the change will happen soon, just like everything price is always high in the beginning.

I love this I'm about to order a set of these! One thought: Might there be a way to reduce waste (and cost to consumers) even further by making the head replaceable? You could perhaps make it 'click' into place like a puzzle piece so it doesn't come apart by brushing. Then you'd only have to dispose/compost of a piece of wood that is only and inch or an inch and a half. That, along with the development of plastic-free bristles, would make me a fan for life!

So excited about this, I'm relegating my unused old dentist giveaways to my travel kit (where they will last for years) and hopping right over to the website to order a pack. And the 4-pack is on sale right now, with free shipping as well! Gosh, I love a plastic-free bargain!!!

So excited about this, I'm relegating my unused old dentist giveaways to my travel kit (where they will last for years) and hopping right over to the website to order a pack. And the 4-pack is on sale right now, with free shipping as well! Gosh, I love a plastic-free bargain!!!

I just want to say that currently most brands of toothbrushes wether plastic or bamboo are all made in China. Even if you buy them at your local store there were probably shipped from China. At least when you throw them away they will disappear if they are made of bamboo.